I have ignored my blog for the past few months. I actually haven’t ignored it more than just been pulled away from it. As you know, my dad was diagnosed with kidney cancer on April 1. He passed away on May 2nd. It was a nightmare of a month full of 9-1-1 calls, hospital stays, bad news, more bad news and fast declining health.

Two of the weeks were spent in the hospital. One week in palliative care spent hoping there would be a cure. A stall. Something. Then a final week with hospice. I can’t say enough about The Denver Hospice. Amazing, caring, unbelievable people. I don’t know what we would have done without all of the support 24 hours a day.

Then a fast decline and suddenly we were sitting in a mortuary making final arrangements. More on this later.

I really had no idea what had happened and didn’t have time to process. After making calls and settling his affairs things began to slow down. For about a day. Then my mom landed in the hospital with a herniated disc. She has been living and healing at my house the past three weeks.

A vacation and another loss. The loss of a person whom I’ve known for two years. A fighter. A bright spirit. Someone taken too too soon. Her children left behind to grow up without her. Makes me wonder how such a strong, courageous, caring human being could be taken when the person who flips me off while passing and cutting me off on the highway is still here.

For those of you keeping score, that’s three losses in six months.

My chin is up, I’m enjoying the warmth and freedom that summer brings and trying to pull my life together. I’m changing my perspective and feelings on a lot of things. I’m looking at things differently. I’m concentrating on the silver linings. On the happiness and being thankful for everything and everyone I have in my life.

Hug those who you care about. Be thankful and love the life you have.